Virginia man sentenced 25 years

(May 19, 2023) Alexander Wu, 32, of McLean, Virginia, was sentenced on May 5 to serve 25 years in the division of corrections for convictions on charges of sexual abuse of a minor and third-degree sex offense.

Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Beau Oglesby imposed the sentence and suspended all but 10 years and placed Wu on five years of supervised probation with conditions that he register as a lifetime sex offender and have no unsupervised contact with children.

The charges stem from a complaint of sexual abuse the victim originally reported to authorities in Mont-

POLICE/COURTS

Continued from Page 22 cluding having a firearm in a drug trafficking crime, possession of a stolen regulated firearm and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, according to a police report.

Around 11 p.m. May 10, Ocean City police conducted a traffic stop on a dark blue Ford Escape that ran through a red light at 26th Street and Philadelphia Avenue, had a headlight out and didn’t have either of its registration lights working.

Police reported they could smell gomery County in January of 2020.

Further investigation revealed that the abuse had occurred in multiple jurisdictions, including Ocean City, where the victim disclosed in a forensic interview that her cheerleading coach, Alexander Wu, had sexually abused her. The victim was 14 years old at the time.

CRICKET Center who assisted in this investigation, and thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Pamela Correa who prosecuted the case.

Alexander Wu

Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and all multi-disciplinary partners at the marijuana in the car, and removed all occupants, including Yearby, the driver, to conduct a search.

Officers found a .40 caliber handgun with a 14-round magazine under the front passenger seat. The Maryland Gun Center told police the gun that a check of its serial number showed the weapon was stolen.

Police also found a black bag under the seat that contained 29 small light blue pills of 30mg Oxycodone, a plastic bag of what appeared to be psilocybin mushrooms, less than 10 grams of marijuana, many small plastic bags labeled “Gas House,” and a small black scale with marijuana residue.

The mission of the CRICKET Center is to create a community response in which abusers are held accountable and children and families experience hope and healing.

The multidisciplinary team is made up of law enforcement officers, child protective service personnel, prosecutors, advocates, mental health therapists and medical personnel.

To learn more, or to report suspected child abuse, contact 410-6410097.

They found another residue-covered scale in the center console and another backpack in the back seat that contained a small bag of marijuana.

Yearby waived his Miranda warnings and told police he was the owner of the car, the handgun, and the black bag as well as everything in it.

Yearby told police he intended to sell the drugs, and they arrested him.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, try to rectify an imbalance in a relationship with another person close to you this week. It’s never too late to make amends, and the rewards are fully worth it.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, friction can be overcome with patience and perseverance. Take an even-keeled approach and give things time to simmer. Change will come.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

The brighter you shine, the more things will come your way this week, Gemini. Wear a big smile on your face and get out into the thick of things.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Cancer, you may have to change your way of thinking to get on the same wavelength as some others this week. Be open-minded to new experiences.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Important lessons about balance could come your way soon, Leo. You need to find that happy medium between work and home responsibilities.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

Events this week could leave you a little dazed and bewildered, Virgo. Nothing seems to be going to plan and that could get on your nerves. Figure out a way to de-stress.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, your urge to take action comes on strong this week. Figure out a project you can put your efforts behind as soon as possible and then dive in with maximum effort.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Use this week as an opportunity to tend to your own needs, Scorpio. Indulge in a spa treatment or play hooky and go on a road trip all by yourself.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, your desire to get ahead is very strong over the course of the next few days. Now you only need to figure out the venture that you will take on.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Others may be begging for your attention, Capricorn. But this week is all about self-healing for you. Focus inward to bring about any personal change you desire.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

You can accomplish a great deal when you happen to get moving, Aquarius. This week the struggle may be finding the motivation to take the first step.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, take a break from reality by reading a good fantasy book, watching a movie or enjoying a stage show. You can use the respite.

First place

Brendan Birch, a student at Snow Hill High School, used strategic investing and strong skills in personal finance to win the Maryland High School Southern Regional Championship of the Fall Stock Market Game, the annual competition organized by the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE).

In the Stock Market Game, student teams from across Maryland created and managed an investment portfolio using $100,000 of hypothetical cash on the New York, American and NASDAQ markets.

More than 1,047 teams from Maryland competed in this 10-week investing immersion experience.

Birch ended the competition with the largest portfolio: $122,594. He was the sole member of Snow Hill’s team.

The competition gives students realworld experience in investing, requiring them to make decisions about analyzing market forecasts, trading stocks, and completing transactions online.

The Stock Market Game at Snow Hill was guided by educator and advisor Jason Konyar and was sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Carson Scholar

Worcester Preparatory School junior Vanesska Hall was named a 2023 Carson Scholar.

The Carson Scholars Program recognizes students who demonstrate the highest standards of academic achievement, integrity, civic and social responsibility.

Hall will receive a $1,000 scholarship award that will be invested for her college education.

She was selected as a Worcester Prep nominee based on her superb academic record and pledge to volunteer. Currently, Hall serves as a leader in the WPS Volunteer Club and a cadet with the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company.

In 2022, she traveled abroad to complete a service project on the Ukrainian border, in addition to many other service commitments throughout her upper school career.

The Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. was founded in 1994 by now retired, worldrenowned Johns Hopkins Pediatric Neurosurgeon Benjamin S. Carson, M.D. and his wife, Candy.

The program has grown to award more than 500 scholarships annually.

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More than 3,500 Carson Scholars have been recognized for their academic and humanitarian achievements in multiple years. Scholarship winners have received more than $8.28 million to help finance their education.

Accepted

Worcester Preparatory School junior Dylan McGovern has been accepted into the American Legion Maryland Boys State 2023 program.

McGovern will be sponsored by the Wicomico Legion Post #64 to attend the weeklong program in June.

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government.

Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies and art and recreational programs.

Food For Thought

Top essays

Worcester Preparatory School freshmen

Sydney Todorov placed first and Jude Damouni finished third in the Ocean City–Berlin Optimist International Essay Competition.

“Both students wrote heartfelt and compelling essays,” Kathy Cater, Optimist Club member and chair of the essay contest, said. “We are very proud to have such young people representing our community.”

Damouni went on to win the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club Oratorical contest, in both the Club and Zone level competitions, which included competitors from Sussex and Wicomico County.

The topic of the four-minute speech was “Discovering the Optimism in Me.”

Inducted

Shenandoah University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that 139 student-athletes are the inau-